Apparatus for flushing oxygen from bulk materials to be packaged

ABSTRACT

An apparatus forming part of a packaging machine flushing oxygen from material to be measured and packed. The apparatus includes a measuring device and a material feeder. A gas supply system supplies flushing gas to the material. The system includes a controlled source of gas leading to a manifold from which extend a plurality of lines each having a throttling valve and each connecting to a flow rate selector valve. The latter is operated to permit rapid switching between predetermined gas flow rates.

Unite States Patent [1 1 Finkelmeier et al.

[ Jan. 14, 1975 APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING OXYGEN FROM BULK MATERIALS TO BE PACKAGED [75] Inventors: Hans-Joachim Finkelmeier,

Fellbach; Klaus Domke, Hirschlanden; Peter Lau, Asperg, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Fr. Hesser Maschinenfabrik AG,

Stuttgart-Bad Cannstadt, Germany 22 Filed: Dec. 19, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 426,034

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 18, 1972 Germany 2261978 [52] US. Cl 141/47, 53/112 R, 141/56, 141/104, 222/190 [51] Int. Cl B65b 31/00 [58] Field of Search 141/47, 48, 49, 54, 56,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,144,176 8/1964 Gronkvist 222/195 3,789,888 2/1974 James et al. 141/48 X Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus forming part of a packaging machine flushing oxygen from material to be measured and packed. The apparatus includes a measuring device and a material feeder. A gas supply system supplies flushing gas to the material. The system includes a controlled source of gas leading to a manifold from which extend a plurality of lines each having a throttling valve and each connecting to a flow rate selector valve. The latter is operated to permit rapid switching between predetermined gas flow rates.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING OXYGEN FROM BULK MATERIALS TO BE PACKAGED The invention relates generally to automatic, high volume, packaging machines and, more particularly, to an apparatus thereof for flushing oxygen from bulk material which is to be measured and packaged.

In the prior art of packaging machines, flushing devices are already known which consist, for example, of a bulk material measuring unit preceded by a bulk material supply conduit and a flushing gas supply system. The flushing gas is introduced into either, or both, the supply conduit or the measuring unit.

The apparatus may be used for measuring and flushing, alternately, different kinds of bulk materials. These materials are passed through the apparatus at different throughput rates. It is desirable, under these conditions, to adjust the amount of flushing gas supplied to each bulk material in order to optimize the amount of flushing gas used and to obtain the best possible flushing results for each set of conditions. Although the control of the gas flow can be achieved by means of an adjustable throttling valve and a flow meter, a certain interval of time is required to make the gas flow adjustment and no bulk material should be measured during this interval.

In order to eliminate such a disadvantage, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for rapid adjustment of the amount of flushing gas supplied to the bulk material to be measured and packaged.

An aspect of the present invention resides in providing an apparatus, for use in conjunction with or as part of a packaging machine, for flushing oxygen from bulk material, for instance in granular form, which is to be measured, e.g., weighed, and packaged. The apparatus includes a measuring device, such as a scale, adapted for receiving the bulk material and a bulk material supply conduit arrangement which feeds or conveys the material to the measuring device. A gas supply system is utilized which includes a gas supply tube opening into the measuring device and/or the conduit as well as a gas distributor manifold from which extend a plurality of adjustable throttling valves. The throttling valves are arranged in parallel. A gas flow selector means, for instance a multi-line or multi-port valve, is interposed between the supply conduit and the distributor manifold with each of the throttling valves connecting individually to the selector. The gas supply tube also connects to the selector so that the selector can be effective to connect, exclusively, any one of the individual throttling valves to the supply tubes.

More specific aspects of the present invention reside in providing an apparatus for gas flushing the oxygen from bulk material to be measured and packaged in a packaging machine. The apparatus includes a measuring unit, of a type known per se, into which the bulk material is fed from a supply conduit and a gas supply system having supply lines extending and opening into the bulk material supply conduit and/or measuring unit. The supply lines are distributed over the cross section of the supply conduit to obtain good flushing action in the bulk material. The gas supply system comprises a supply tank from which the flushing gas is fed through a throttling valve controlled by the drive of the packaging machine to a gas distributor manifold. A plurality of adjustable throttling valves are connected in parallel to the gas manifold and are in turn connected to the inlet ports of a selector means, such as a multiline valve, interposed between the throttling valves and the gas supply lines. The selector means can be positioned to selectively connect the gas supply lines to any one of the throttling valves. This function can also be performed by a plurality of valves which are individually actuated.

Each throttling valve is adjusted to one type of bulk material and/or throughput rate thus permitting rapid adjustment and control of the flushing gas to suit the conditions required for the particular bulk material being measured and packaged.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawing:

The single FIGURE is a schematic illustration of the flushing apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a device for the rapid adjustment and control of gas used for flushing the oxygen from bulk material which is to be measured and packaged. A measuring unit 1, based on weight or volume, of a type known per se, for instance see US. Pat. No. 3,543,970, is fed bulk material from a material supply coduit 2. Suspended within the conduit 2 are a plurality of flushing gas supply tubes 3 having their lower ends located near, or in, the measuring unit 1. The number ofsupply tubes 3 is dependent upon the cross-sectional area of the conduit 2 as well the resistance of the bulk material to the passage of the flushing gas.

The gas supply tubes 3 are each connected at their upper end through a flow meter 4 and an adjustable throttling valve 5 to a common line 6. The valves 5 are adjusted so that equal volumes of flushing gas can be passed through each tube 3. The common line 6 is connected in turn to a multi-line selector valve 7 shown in the drawing having four inlets 8, 9, l0, 11 each connected respectively to adjustable throttling valves l2, l3, l4, 15. The valves 12 to 15 are connected to a distributor manifold 16 which is supplied through a pressure reducing valve 18 with flushing gas from a storage tank 17.

In operation the valves 12, l3, 14, 15 are each adjusted in a manner suitable for one kind of bulk material passing through the conduit 2 at a specific through put rate. When a particular bulk material is to be processed, the selector valve 7 is positioned to draw gas through the specific valve previously adjusted for a specific bulk material. When a change is made to another bulk material, the selector valve 7 is repositioned to the appropriate setting. This change can be made in a few moments. The selector valve 7 could be replaced by individual valves, not shown.

To achieve better control of the gas flowing to the distributor 16 from the supply tank 17, a valve 19 and another valve 20 connected in parallel therewith are interposed between the regulator 18 and the distributor 16. In addition, there is connected in the line from the valve 20 to the distributor 16 an adjustable throttling valve 21. The valves 19, 20 may be magnetic valves connected to the means for controlling the drive of a packaging machine, with which the measuring unit is associated.

This arrangement permits a reduction in the amount of gas flowing from the tubes 3 if it is desired to operate the packaging machine at a low rate or to keep the apparatus in readiness while the packaging machine is shut down for a short time. The same purpose could be achieved by means of a power driven throttling valve, not shown, preceding the distributor 16 and controlled by the packaging machine drive.

The above described system for flushing the oxygen out of bulk material can be used with particular advantage in combination with packaging machines of the type illustrated and disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,708,952, whose disclosure and particularly the main components thereof are incorporated herein by this reference.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is aimed, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a packaging machine, an apparatus for flushing oxygen from bulk material which is to be measured and packaged comprising:

measuring means adapted for receiving the bulk material;

a bulk material supply conduit means leading to said measuring unit; gas supply system including a gas supply tube opening into one of the two above recited means, a gas distributor manifold, a plurality of adjustable throttling valves connected in parallel to said manifold;

gas flow selector means interposed between said supply conduit and said distributor manifold with each of said throttling valves connecting individually to said selector means and said gas supply tube flow connecting to said selector, said selector being effective to connect exclusively any one of the said throttling valves to said supply tubes.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selector means is in the form of a multi-line valve.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of said gas supply tubes extend inside said bulk material supply conduit and are distributed over the cross section thereof.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selector means is comprised of a plurality of valves which can be individually actuated.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distributor manifold includes a gas inlet connected to a throttling valve which can be turned on and off, or adjusted, by the control for the drive of said packaging machine. 

1. In a packaging machine, an apparatus for flushing oxygen from bulk material which is to be measured and packaged comprising: measuring means adapted for receiving the bulk material; a bulk material supply conduit means leading to said measuring unit; gas supply system including a gas supply tube opening into one of the two above recited means, a gas distributor manifold, a plurality of adjustable throttling valves connected in parallel to said manifold; gas flow selector means interposed between said supply conduit and said distributor manifold with each of said throttling valves connecting individually to said selector means and said gas supply tube flow connecting to said selector, said selector being effective to connect exclusively any one of the said throttling valves to said supply tubes.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selector means is in the form of a multi-line valve.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of said gas supply tubes extend inside said bulk material supply conduit and are distributed over the cross section thereof.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selector means is comprised of a plurality of valves which can be individually actuated.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distributor manifold includes a gas inlet connected to a throttling valve which can be turned on and off, or adjusted, by the control for the drive of said packaging machine. 